Boca Raton Personal Injury Lawyers Blog | Ellis, Ged & Bodden P.A.

The sun sentinel recently posted an update on the accident that occurred on Friday: Her life ended on Interstate 95 just months after she arrived in South Florida to help her family abroad. Aracely Mendoza moved from Nicaragua in October for better job opportunities. The 23-year-old settled in Miami, found a service job and sent nearly all her earnings to her family, her friends said. "She was a good person — very moral," said one friend, Milbia Matamoros.

In the early hours last Friday, Mendoza was killed in a head-on wreck on Interstate 95 in Broward County that was caused by a car going in the wrong direction, the Florida Highway Patrol said Monday. Mendoza — the sole person who died in the crash — was a passenger in a white 2005 Ford van headed south at about 4:18 a.m. Near Commercial Boulevard, a silver 2003 BMW struck the van, shredding the BMW's front half and tearing into the front passenger side of the van, the FHP said. FHP Lt. Gene Hingson said evidence at the crash site and witnesses confirmed the BMW was traveling north in the southbound lanes.

No one has been charged in the crash. FHP investigators are waiting to obtain toxicology results of the BMW's driver, Davydson Soares, 31, of Pompano Beach, to determine whether he was driving under the influence, Hingson said. Soares was treated and released from Broward General Medical Center on Friday. He couldn't be reached for comment despite a visit to his home Monday.

State records show Soares has a suspended license for failure to pay traffic fines. On March 22, Miami Beach police charged him with the misdemeanor crime of disorderly conduct. He told authorities he was a chiropractor, records show.

The van's driver, Elba Matamoros, 39, and two passengers, Tonya Carrera, 24, and Ruby Castenerra, 29, were treated and released from Broward General Medical Center Friday. They all live in Miami. Elba Matamoros, Milbia Matamoros' sister, said Monday that friends were trying to raise about $5,000 to pay for Mendoza's body to be returned to her homeland.

Matamoros said someone must be held accountable for Mendoza's death. "I want justice," she said.

The law provides a limited time period for you to bring an automobile accident claim. If you are in Florida, and have been injured in an auto accident, or if you have a loved one injured, contact Ellis, Ged & Bodden P.A. today. We will work diligently to protect your legal rights and to maximize your recovery. The initial consultation is free of charge, so call or email us today.

The Miami Hearld is reported on a hit and run accident, A pedestrian died Sunday after what appeared to be a hit-and-run accident in Southwest Miami-Dade. A car struck the woman at about 3:30 p.m. near Southwest 157th Avenue and 289th Terrace, Miami-Dade police said.

The vehicle left the scene, police said, and headed north on 157th Avenue. The woman was airlifted to the Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital, where she died. Investigators later interviewed a suspect who was found near the scene. No names were released.

The key to filing a wrongful death lawsuit is determining that another party was negligent. This means that someone else failed to act in a reasonable, responsible way and that their action or inaction caused your injury. At the law firm of Ellis, Ged & Bodden, P.A., we can help you explore your legal options. We offer free consultations, and can meet with you at home, at work or even in your hospital room. We’ll listen to your concerns and tell you how we can help. You need to have a team on your side, to protect your interests. If a loved one has been killed or if you have been injured as a result of someone’s negligence, please contact our wrongful death lawyers today.

The Miami Herald reported that a Miami woman was killed Friday morning in a head-on collision between a van and a BMW in the southbound lanes of Interstate 95 near Commercial Boulevard, the Florida Highway Patrol said. Four others were seriously injured in the crash, which led authorities to close the highway just north of Commercial Boulevard during the peak morning hours as they conducted an investigation. The roadway has since opened, said FHP spokesman Sgt. Mark Wysocky.

The woman who died was identified as 23-year-old Aracely Mendoza. Wysocky said details are still sketchy, but it appears the crash happened about 4:18 a.m.''We're still trying to determine what happened, whether someone was driving the wrong way or whether someone had spun out and then was facing the wrong way,'' he said.According to Wysocky, a man driving the BMW was taken to Broward General Medical Center in serious condition. Three other women in the van were taken to the same hospital, one in critical condition and two in serious condition.

The law provides a limited time period for you to bring an automobile accident claim. If you are in Florida, and have been injured in an auto accident, or if you have a loved one injured, contact Ellis, Ged & Bodden P.A. today. We will work diligently to protect your legal rights and to maximize your recovery. The initial consultation is free of charge, so call or email us today.

The sun sentinel.com is reporting that, A West Palm Beach driver could face charges in a spree of hit-and-run crashes on Interstate 95 in Broward County that injured a Davie woman, the Florida Highway Patrol said Tuesday.

Michele M. Fevola, 33, was involved in four crashes on I-95 that began at about 8 p.m. Monday in Deerfield Beach and ended minutes later in Fort Lauderdale, said FHP spokesman Sgt. Mark Wysocky. Troopers are awaiting toxicology results to determine whether Fevola was driving drunk, Wysocky said. The woman hurt in one of the crashes, Marisol Montellano, 21, was taken to Broward General Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale, where she was in good condition Tuesday, hospital spokeswoman Candice Ogden said. Fevola's 2002 Chevrolet pickup rear-ended a 2008 Lexus, then struck a 1994 Toyota before hitting Montellano's 2004 Isuzu SUV near Sunrise Boulevard, FHP said. Fevola lost control of her pickup, veered left and was struck by a 2009 Toyota, Wysocky said. Fevola was taken to Broward General, where she was treated and released, Ogden said. The drivers of the other vehicles were unhurt.

Fevola has had several run-ins with the law, state records show. She was convicted of driving under the influence in Broward in July 2001, Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles records show. Another DUI case the same year resulted in her license being revoked for five years.Her license was suspended this year for failing to pay a traffic citation, but it was reinstated last month, records show.

Auto accidents are the most common basis for personal injury claims brought in the United States. When a person is careless in the operation of their vehicle, they are liable to all individuals who are injured as a result. The law provides a limited time period for you to bring an automobile accident claim. If you are in Florida, and have been injured in an auto accident, or if you have a loved one injured, contact Ellis, Ged & Bodden today. We will work diligently to protect your legal rights and to maximize your recovery. The initial consultation is free of charge, so call or email us today.

Butte, MT: While there have been conflicting reports surrounding the number of people killed Sunday afternoon in the horrific plane crash in Montana, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has confirmed that 14 people were killed.

Previous reports, including one that ran in the early edition of the New York Times this morning, suggested that anywhere from 14 to 17 people were on board. The latter observation came from an aircraft mechanic who was on duty at the airport in Oroville. He suggested that he let as many as a dozen children from the plane use the restroom at the facility, which was the last stop the single-engine turboprop plane made before it crashed 3 hours later into a cemetery in Montana. According to the New York Times an FAA spokesperson suggested also that 14 to 17 people were on board the plane, but as of a few minutes ago all the major media outlets appeared to have settled on a death toll of 14—7 adults and 7 children. There were no survivors.

The plane crash occurred Sunday at 3:26pm Mountain time. Eyewitnesses report seeing the plane wobble in the sky, and one witness noted that the plane was banked in a 90-degree vertical roll, with one wing pointing straight up, before the plane plunged nose-first into a wooded area of Holy Cross Cemetery and burst into flames. According to various reports the plane was leased by a number of families who shared a vacation property, and was presumably shuttling the passengers to a ski vacation. The flight is said to have originated in Redlands, California and had flown to Vacaville, where it remained on the ground for just under an hour. It is not known if the plane took on fuel at the time. From there, the Pilatus PC-12 took off for the short hop to Oroville, about 65 miles north of Sacramento. The plane took on no fuel at Oroville. It is here that many of the passengers exited the plane to stretch their legs and use the facilities. It was about 11am Pacific Time when the plane took off from Oroville for the presumed final leg of the journey, to Gallatin Field at Bozeman, Montana.

The latter is about a dozen miles from the Bridger Bowl Ski Area in the Gallatin Mountains. However, the plane never made it to Bozeman. At one point the pilot abruptly abandoned his flight plan and diverted to Butte, about 75 miles west of Bozeman and closer. Why the pilot diverted may never be known. As the plane was a leased plane on a private flight and not a commercial enterprise, there was no black box on board monitoring the comments of the pilot. There is also no communications tower at Bert Mooney Airport at Butte, which is more of a self-serve facility with even self-serve fuelling capability. Speculation, however suggests that when the pilot abandoned his flight plan and diverted to a closer airport, the need to land promptly was paramount. But why? Was there a sudden mechanical problem with the plane? Was the pilot low on fuel?

There are many questions, many of which will hopefully be answered by the FAA with an assist by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). One factor being looked at is the weight borne by the single-engine Pilatus PC-12, an aircraft built in Sweden and approved for civil aviation in the US in 1994. Specs for the aircraft cite a capacity for 9 or 10 passengers in some commercial configurations, although the specific plane that crashed yesterday afternoon was said to have approved seating for 12. However, even the most conservative estimate of 14 passengers, represents 2 more people than the plane was reported to be rated for. That also suggests that, given speculation of a vacation, there would be luggage for two additional people as well. Aviation experts agree that an aircraft is rated for number of passengers, and weight for specific reasons. A plane will handle differently and presumably burn more fuel if overloaded. And the sudden shifting of weight, whether the shift represents passengers suddenly changing their seat assignments, or the sudden shifting of gross weight such as luggage, could all have an impact on how the plane behaves in the air.

The specific Pilatus PC-12 did not appear to have any prior maintenance or safety issues. However, the New York Times was reporting this morning that according to the NTSB there have been 15 accidents involving Pilatus planes since 2001, six of which involving fatalities. There have also been reports that transportation authorities had put the Pilatus on watch for some ongoing issue with regard to the Pilatus engine. According to the FAA the doomed plane was registered to Eagle Cap Leasing of Enterprise, Oregon. It was not immediately known if the plane came with a pilot, or if someone else flew the plane. NBC was reporting this morning that five members from one family were killed when the plane went down.

Eyewitnesses who saw the crash ran over to the crash scene immediately after the crash, but by then the fire was raging and there was nothing anyone on the ground could do. There were no injuries to people on the ground. Investigators report the fire burned for about five or ten minutes, and that rescue crews were on the scene within minutes. The doomed plane crashed just 500 feet west of the runway at Bert Mooney Airfield at Butte. It is the third major plane crash in the US, in as many months.

If you or your loved ones were involved in a plane crash accident the Florida airplane accident attorneys can help you. Please contact our Boca Raton office at 561-9951966 or 1888 EGB FIRM.

Fox 29 is reporting today that the investigation continues in a Belle Glade shooting. In West Palm Beach, FL -- A fight at a local high school boiled over into a late-night shooting that ended the life of a 15 year-old boy, sheriff's officials said.

The Palm Beach County Violent Crimes Task Force is investigating the circumstances leading up to the shooting. It happened just after 10 pm at a mobile home park at 190 State Road 715 in Belle Glade, said Teri Barbera, spokeswoman for the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office. When deputies got to the scene, they found the 15 year-old victim dead from a gunshot wound to his torso. Witnesses described the shooting to police. They say the victim and a friend walked out of a trailer and saw another man fire off several rounds at three other people, who then took off on foot.

The victim then realized his friend wasn't with him. He went back to the scene, realized he had been shot, and later died. Detectives canvassed the scene for evidence. They have not released the name of the victim.

If you know anything, call Palm Beach County CrimeStoppers at 1-800-458-TIPS.

The key to filing a wrongful death lawsuit is determining that another party was negligent. This means that someone else failed to act in a reasonable, responsible way and that their action or inaction caused your injury. At the law firm of Ellis, Ged & Bodden, P.A., we can help you explore your legal options. We offer free consultations, and can meet with you at home, at work or even in your hospital room. We’ll listen to your concerns and tell you how we can help. You need to have a team on your side, to protect your interests. If a loved one has been killed or if you have been injured as a result of someone’s negligence, please contact our wrongful death lawyers today.

On Sunday CBS 12 news reported on a deadly accident in West Palm Beach. The Florida Highway Patrol is trying to determine if the driver of a BMW that spun out of control on Sunday afternoon was wearing a seat belt when he crashed.

The accident happened just off the southbound lanes of Australian Avenue in West Palm Beach. Investigators say the driver, 42-year old Pastro Munoz, was driving along Australian near the south end bend of the Palm Beach International Airport, when he lost control of his car.

According to witnesses, Munoz was speeding well over 70 to 75 miles per hour, in a 45 mile per hour zone, when he tried to pass several cars using the left lane. They say he hit the curb on the left side, crossed three lanes of traffic toward the right, sending the car into the air spinning. The car finally ended up in the parking lot outside 'Jet Aviation' near the airport. Munoz ended up about 100 feet away from the car.

Munoz was taken to St. Mary's Medical Center where he later died. No one else was hurt in the accident.

The law provides a limited time period for you to bring an automobile accident claim. If you are in Florida, and have been injured in an auto accident, or if you have a loved one injured, contact Ellis, Ged & Bodden P.A. today. We will work diligently to protect your legal rights and to maximize your recovery. The initial consultation is free of charge, so call or email us today.

The Sun Sentinel reported today that, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte Stallworth was driving drunk — blood alcohol tests showed he was over the legal limit — last weekend when he struck and killed a pedestrian with his Bentley in Miami Beach, a source with knowledge of the investigation told The Miami Herald. Miami Beach police would not confirm Stallworth had a blood alcohol level above the legal limit when his car struck Mario Reyes."We have not released anything regarding the blood work," said Jenny Velazquez, a Miami Beach police spokeswoman. "We're not confirming anything." WSVN-Ch. 7 reported Thursday that Stallworth's blood alcohol level was .12. The legal limit is .08.

No charges have been filed against Stallworth, 28. Robert Switkes, Stallworth's civil attorney, said he had not seen the toxicology report. "I have not seen them, and I have no comment," he said. Stallworth, who is cooperating with police, issued a statement Wednesday expressing his condolences to Reyes' family.

At the law firm of Ellis, Ged & Bodden, P.A., we can help you explore your legal options. We offer free consultations, and can meet with you at home, at work or even in your hospital room. We’ll listen to your concerns and tell you how we can help. You need to have a team on your side, to protect your interests. If a loved one has been killed in an accident, or if you have been injured as a result of someone’s negligence, please contact our wrongful death lawyers today

The Sun Sentinel reported Two people suffered minor injuries this morning in an accident involving a shuttle bus and a car at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, the Broward Sheriff's Office said.Both people were in a Toyota that struck the bus and "appeared to have bruising from their seat belts," said Veda Coleman-Wright, a sheriff's spokeswoman said.The collision happened on the north side of the airport at Southwest 34th Street and Southwest Third Avenue about 6 a.m.As the Toyota attempted to turn onto 34th Street, it struck the bus with the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, the Sheriff's Office said.

The Toyota's driver, whose name wasn't immediately available, was cited for careless driving. None of the five people aboard the bus was hurt.The bus travels between a Tri-Rail station in Dania Beach and the airport, said agency spokeswoman Jennifer Paul.

If you're a passenger in a vehicle involved in an auto accident, and if you have sustained injury as a result, you are entitled to receive compensation for your injuries. Contact the Fort Lauderdale accident attorneys at Ellis, Ged & Bodden today for a free consultation.